German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble used his acceptance speech when awarded the Charlemagne Prize to detail his future vision of the European Union, arguing for a directly-elected Commission president.

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Arnaud Montebourg, the newly-appointed French minister for "industrial revival" who has built a reputation for his fierce attacks against globalisation, has promised to revive old plans by Nicolas Sarkzoy for a carbon tariff at the EU's borders, an idea previously rejected as protectionist among France's European partners.

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In order to re-establish confidence in Europe’s power sector as an actor in the European quest to cut carbon emissions, a few conditions need to be met. These include concrete intermediate reduction targets and an emissions trading scheme capable of delivering a clear CO2 price signal, writes Giuseppe Montesano.

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Das Streben nach Freiheit und einem Leben ohne Unterdrückung dürfte so alt sein, wie die Menschheit selbst. Und dieses Streben war niemals nur reine Männersache, nicht nur Befreiungskämpfe gegen unterdrückende Herrscher, nicht nur Spartacus, Wilhelm Tell oder Robin Hood, sondern auch schon immer die Emanzipation der Frau^[1] gegen ein...

Laurent Fabius, who led the Socialist opposition to the draft European Constitution, has been tapped by Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to head France's foreign ministry. A close aide, Bernard Cazeneuve, will manage European affairs. EurActiv France reports.

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In an old harbour crowded with houseboats, Amsterdam is looking to the future with plans to construct low-energy homes in a climate-neutral neighbourhood.

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The threat of a bank run in Greece, where savers have started pulling money from their personal accounts over fears of a return to the Drachma, is having an effect on voting intentions ahead of a snap election next month.

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Europe could strengthen its monetary union by giving European politicians the power to declare a sovereign state bankrupt and take over its fiscal policy, the former head of the European Central Bank said yesterday (17 May) in unveiling a bold proposal to salvage the euro.

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May 19th 2012 | from the print edition

from the print edition | The world this week

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If Greece were to exit the eurozone, expansionary fiscal policies and successive competitive devaluations will not work, as they have not worked in the past. The root of the crisis is not austerity, but the fact that Greece essentially ceased its efforts to reform after the adoption of the euro, writes Nikos Chrysoloras.

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